Automated tuning of wireless peripheral devices

ABSTRACT

A system and a method for the automatic tuning of wireless peripheral devices, such as wireless keyboards, mice and digital cameras by providing a host transceiver in connection with a host via a bus, the host transceiver having a plurality of antennas configured to receive and send data between a host and a peripheral device, and a host-resident software program which causes the host to select the antenna having a higher signal quality as the most productive antenna to transfer data between the host and the peripheral device. All the complexity of the antenna selection operation is achieved by a host-resident software program, which periodically measures the signal quality of each antenna, compares the signal qualities and selects the higher signal quality antenna to transfer data between the host and the peripheral device. Signal quality is assessed based on the signal level, signal-to-noise ratio or other signal quality indicators for the signal provided by the antenna. The periodic measurements of signal quality, which are performed by the host-resident software program, are carried out in a manner to minimize any potential discontinuities in the reception of signals transferred between the host and the peripheral device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/308,304, filed Jul. 27, 2001, the teachings ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to wireless peripheral devices, andin particular to wireless peripheral devices in communication with ahost. More specifically, the present invention relates to the automatedtuning of wireless peripheral devices via a diversity antenna system.

[0003] Many peripheral device vendors have decided to cut the cord thatconnects the peripheral device with its host. For example, many vendorspresently offer wireless peripheral devices such as wireless keyboardsand computer input devices such as computer mice. Typically, in suchsystems, the tethered connection is replaced by a wireless device thattransmits to a receiver/transmitter, where the receiver/transmitter isconnected via a communication bus with a host such as a personalcomputer.

[0004] While a wireless connection provides many advantages over atethered one, it does introduce certain unique problems. These uniqueproblems include reception anomalies due to reception interference.These anomalies occur at each point in the receiving space where thefirst and a reflected transmission waves sum to zero or near zero at thereceiver. The locations of these zeros will depend on the length of thetwo paths, which in turn depend on the location of the transmitterrelative to the receiver, as well as the location of object in between.There may also be multiple secondary reflected waves that producesimilar points of poor or zero recaption. Another challenge faced byperipheral device manufacturers is maintaining costs down, whileproviding high quality devices.

[0005] A solution to this reception problem involves a technique that isknown in RF circles. This technique is commonly known as diversityreception or antenna diversity, and is used primarily in wirelesstelecommunication devices. Antenna diversity is used in antenna-basedcommunications systems to reduce the effects of multi-path distortionfading. Antenna diversity may be obtained by providing a receiver withtwo or more antennas. The diversity reception system then chooses thesignal provided by the most productive antenna for a given location oftransmitter and receiver. Diversity reception techniques typicallyinvolve the incorporation of additional hardware and circuitry on thereceiver and/or the transmitter end of the wireless system. Thisadditional hardware and circuitry adds costs and complexities that maybe absorbable for higher end telecommunications devices (e.g., cellphones), but would diminish or entirely remove the profitability from alow cost consumer wireless peripheral device. Furthermore, ahardware-based solution, once implemented becomes very expensive toenhance, while most, if not all, peripheral devices generally benefitfrom periodic updates.

[0006] Another solution to the reception problems in wireless systemsinvolves the manual (frequency) tuning of the peripheral and or thereceiver, to ensure a satisfactory reception. While this method mayprovide a solution, it will require access to the device by an operatorto tune the device, which may not always be possible. Anothershortcoming of the manual tuning approach is that it is a one-time orstatic tuning and thus may require subsequent manual tunings.Furthermore, while the manual approach may address the tuning needswhere the system is limited to a pair of transmitter/receivers, themanual approach is not as effective for the tuning of a system thatincludes more than one transmitter sending their data to a commonreceiver, since the receiver can at best be tuned to only one of thetransmitters.

[0007] There is therefore a need for a low cost system that canautomatically address reception issues in wireless peripheral devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides systems and methods for theautomatic tuning of wireless peripheral devices, such as wirelesskeyboards, mice and electronic cameras by providing a host transceiverin connection with a host via a bus, the host transceiver having aplurality of antennas configured to receive and send data between a hostand a peripheral device, and a host-resident software program whichcauses the host to select the antenna having a higher signal quality asthe most productive antenna to transfer data between the host and theperipheral device. All the complexity of the antenna selection operationis achieved by a host-resident software program, which periodicallymeasures the signal quality of each antenna, compares the signalqualities and selects the higher signal quality antenna to transfer databetween the host and the peripheral device. Signal quality is assessedbased on the signal level, signal- to-noise ratio or other signalquality indicators for the signal provided by the antenna. The periodicmeasurements of signal quality, which are performed by the host-residentsoftware program, are carried out in a manner to minimize any potentialdiscontinuities in the reception of signals transferred between the hostand the peripheral device.

[0009] The implementation of a software-based scheme to select anantenna on a transceiver connected with a host, by the host computer,reduces hardware costs, and provides a system that can be easilyupgraded. For a further understanding of the nature and advantages ofthe present invention, reference should be made to the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the automated tuning system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the automated tuningmethod of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for implementing the automatictuning scheme according to embodiments of the present invention. Thissystem is illustrative of a system that implements the automatic tuningscheme of the present invention and is not meant to be limiting of thescope of the embodiments of the present invention. Since thebi-directional nature of transmission and reception between a peripheraldevice and a host are intimately related, the detailed descriptionprovided below describes both the forward and the back channeloperations. Forward channel operation refers to the transmission ofimage, sound and data (including control signals) from the peripheraldevice to the host, and back channel operation refers to thetransmission of control signals from the host to the peripheral device.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a wireless system for transmission and reception ofimages, sound and data from a video camera 30 to a receiver unit 40which is tethered to a host 52 via a bus 50 according to one embodimentof the forward channel operations associated with the present invention.FIG. 1 also shows one embodiment of the back channel system whichprovides control signals from the host 52 via the bus 50 to atransmitter 142, in the same receiver unit 40, and via wirelesstransmission to the camera 30. This system includes a broadcast deviceor a camera unit 30 and a receiver unit 40. The camera unit 30 receivesas input image, audio and data, converts their respective signals to ananalog format (or leaves them in an analog format) and broadcasts themto the receiver unit. The receiver unit 40 receives the broadcastsignals, converts them to digital format, and does the necessaryprocessing to fit the bandwidth of the bus to which it is communicating.In addition to camera 30, the system may include a second camera 30 a,and additional devices such as a FAX machine 30 b, a copier 30 c, ascanner 30 d, a wireless keyboard 30 e, a wireless computer mouse 30 for other network peripheral devices such as telephones, video phones,teleconference and video conference devices.

[0014] As can be seen in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the camera unit iscomprised of three sub units. The first sub unit performs the functionof sensing the video image, the second sub unit performs thetransmission function, and the third sub unit is the receiver. The firstsub unit may also include a microphone and an IR receiver, and a controlcircuit which generates control data for transmission. The controlcircuit also processes command signals for execution. The three subunits can be integrated at the sub assembly level in multiple chips orat the integrated circuit level in one chip, which can be an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates the main sub units of one embodiment of thereceiver unit 40. These are an antenna array 41, a receiver 42, ananalog to digital converter (ADC) 44, a processor (e.g. digital signalprocessor “DSP”) 46, and a bus interface unit 48. Antenna array 41includes a plurality of antennas, which are spatially separated from oneanother, and from which the host will select the most productive one asa source of received data, as is described below. Antenna array 41receives the broadcast signal from the camera unit 30. The broadcastsignal is passed to the receiver 42 to down convert it to anintermediate frequency and demodulate the signal back to its separateimage, audio and data base band signal portions. The base band analogsignals are converted to digital format signals by the ADC 44, whichpasses the digital format signals to a DSP 46 which performs one or moreof the compression, cropping, scaling, color processing and otherfunctions on the data, as well as digital filtering. Once processed, thedigital signal is provided to a bus interface 48. The bus interface 48receives the digital signal from the DSP 46 and processes it to fit thebandwidth of the bus 50 to which it is communicating. Bus 50 transmitsthe signals processed by the DSP 46 to a host processor 52 which willrespond to the transmitted data signal, and/or display the video signaland/or playback the transmitted audio signal.

[0016] In one example, a broadcast frequency of 65.5 MHz (Channel 3) isused for the video camera 30, with other frequencies (Channels 1, 2 and4) being used for the other broadcast devices. In an embodiment, thetransmitter 34 includes a mixer, which varies its center frequencybetween 907 MHz and 925 MHz. The receiver 42 down converts to anintermediate frequency of 45 MHz. In addition to the frequency rangesset forth above, the embodiments of the present invention equallyencompass transmission of data including image data over other frequencyranges including, for example, the 27 MHz, 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz aswell as other as are known to those of skill in the art.

[0017] In one embodiment, referred to as an external receiverembodiment, the bus 50 is a universal serial bus (USB), or an IEEE 1394bus (such as Apple's trademarked FireWire® bus) or a parallel port.Alternately, in an imbedded receiver embodiment, the bus is an interintegrated circuit (IIC) bus. In addition to the communication interfaceprotocols set forth above, other protocols including serialcommunication as well as other as are know to those of skill in the artare within the scope of the present invention. These communicationsprotocols are not meant to limit the scope of the embodiments of thepresent invention.

[0018] The various embodiments of the host 52 include typical processorssuch as: a personal computer (PC), a television set top box (STB), anetwork computer, a workstation, a server, a router, a switch, a hub, abridge, a printer, a copier, a scanner, a fax machine, a modem, anetwork appliance, a game station, a cellular phone, or any device whereimages, audio and data are displayed, further processed, viewed, hardcopied or distributed over a network. Instead of a camera, the inventioncould receive broadcast signals from an electronic pen, a scanner,copier, FAX machine, photographic processor or any other device, whichreceives, processes, or simply retransmits data including image data.

[0019] The receiver unit 40 of FIG. 1 is a receiver for image, sound anddata from the peripheral devices 30, 30 a-f, and it also is atransmitter of control signals from a host 52 via a bus 50 to theperipheral devices 30, 30 a-f. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the receiverunit 40 includes a transmitter 142 and an antenna array 141 to transmitcontrol signals to the peripheral devices 30, 30 a-f. Antenna array 141includes a plurality of antennas, from which the host will select themost productive one to transmit data to the peripheral device, as isdescribed below. In one embodiment of the command channel, a controlsignal is provided by the host 52 and is transmitted to the externalreceiver unit 40 via the bus 50. The control signal is passed to thetransmitter 142 where it is converted to a broadcastable format signal,which is radiated out by the transmitting antenna array 141. Specificcontrol signal examples include: power on/off, display format settings,location signals, channel select, volume up/down, mode, pan, tilt, zoom,dial, call, answer, display, audio on/off, data on/off, subtitle on/off,connect, and disconnect. Specific examples of display format signalsinclude full, picture in picture (PIP), common intermediate format(CIF), quarter CIF (QCIF), source input format (SIF), quarter SIF(QSIF), VGA, PAL and NTSC. The broadcast control signals are thenreceived by the receiver on the peripheral device such as receiver 134on the video camera unit 30.

[0020] In one embodiment, the camera and the receiver module can be of aform described in a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/440,827, entitled “Wireless Intelligent Host Imaging, Audio and DataReceiver,” assigned to the assignee herein, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0021] Furthermore, as described above, the transmit/receive systemdescribed above, also includes command channel or back channeloperations configured to send data from the host back to the peripheraldevice. The back channel operations can be of a form described in acopending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/439,736, entitled“Wireless Network Device Command Channel,” assigned to assignee herein,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

[0022] A computer program (not shown) is loaded and executed on the host52 to measure the signal quality of the received signal on the receivingantenna array 41, and to select the most productive antenna as thesource of received signals. Likewise, the same computer program is usedto select the most productive antenna from the antenna array 141 totransmit data to the peripheral device.

[0023] In general terms, embodiments of the present invention utilizediversity reception, which is a technique known in the RF arena.Diversity reception systems typically involve the spacing of multipleantennas some fraction of a wavelength apart and then choosing the mostproductive antenna for any given combination of transmitter andreceiver. In embodiments of the present invention, the multiple antennasare used on the host receiver, and the host, which is connected with thehost receiver, through the operation of a host-side software programautomatically selects the most productive antenna based on a desiredsignal characteristics measured from each of the several antennas. Themeasurement of the signals and switching between antennas usually occursduring blanking or other non-data-transmit intervals, but is not limitedto these intervals, to minimize any potential discontinuity inreception. The measurement of signals and switching between antenna aremade periodically so that even if the peripheral device (e.g., camera,mouse, keyboard, pen, scanner, printer and so on) or objects in thefield are in motion, reception anomalies are continuously minimized,thus allowing for an improved reception.

[0024] It is known that in a diversity reception scheme, an increase inthe number of antennas, results in a proportional improvement in theoverall reception. For example, a two-antenna system will correct atleast 80% of anomalies, and a three-antenna system will correct up to95% of anomalies. Antenna as used herein includes any body connectedwith the host receiver that is capable of receiving (or transmitting) RFsignals and hence may include the cable connecting the host receiverwith the host.

[0025]FIG. 2 is flow chart 200 of an embodiment of the method of thepresent invention, which is used to select the most productive antennaon the host receiver for receiving data from or transmitting data to theperipheral device. Once the software has been loaded and initialized(step 202), which in one embodiment occurs as a part of the host'snormal startup, the software causes the host to scan for networktransmitters (step 204). Network transmitters are, for example, any ofdevices 30 a-f. This step (step 204) occurs in response to the hostreceiver 40 beginning to receive transmission signals from variousremote devices 30 a-f. Next, the software program determines a measureof the received signal's quality as received by the first antenna (step206). In one embodiment, the signal quality indicator is the absolutevalue of the signal's level. In an alternate embodiment, the signalquality indicator is the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal.Other signal quality measures as are known in the art may also be usedto assess the quality of the signal. The measured signal qualityindicator from the first antenna is then stored (step 208). Next, thesoftware causes the system (i.e., host and host receiver) to switch tothe next receiving antenna (step 210), and a measure of the signalquality is obtained for the next antenna (step 212). This process (steps210-212) is repeated for all the antennas in the system. A comparison ismade next (step 214) and the antenna providing the highest signalquality is selected (step 216). The selected antenna is used to receivedata from transmitting devices until it is time to compare antennasagain, at which time step 204 -216 are repeated again.

[0026] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to the backchannel or command channel operations of the host receiver. Thesoftware-diversity scheme according to embodiments of the presentinvention also enables significant improvements to the functionality ofthe back channel operations. In a back channel, or command channel mode,where the host receiver is transmitting and the wireless device isreceiving, data is sent from the host to the wireless device (e.g.,camera, mouse, keyboard, pen, scanner, printer and so on). Just as inthe “forward” transmission mode, where reception problems could arise insending data to the host, in the “backward” transmission mode, receptionproblems could arise in sending data from the host. To address the backchannel reception issues, the host is used to control the choice of theantenna on the receiver, which is used for the transmission of data tothe wireless peripheral (e.g., camera, mouse, keyboard, pen, scanner,printer and so on ). In one embodiment, to determine which transmittingantenna is the most productive one, a “token” is transmitted by each ofthe receiver's antennas to the peripheral device. The peripheral devicethen sends back the tokens; the host compares the returned token to thetransmitted one, and depending on how the tokens came back, the hostselects the antenna which resulted in the better returned token as themost productive one for the transmission of commands from the host tothe peripheral device.

[0027] One advantage of the automatic tuning system of the presentinvention is its ease of use. The host-based application programmeasures antenna performance and selects the most productive antennabased on the quality of the signal. As described above, most wirelesssystems typically require that the peripheral device or the receiver beadjusted manually for an optimum reception. If subsequently the cameraor the receiver is moved, the other may need to be adjusted accordinglyfor an optimum reception. The automated tuning approach according toembodiments of the present invention alleviates the need for manualadjustments.

[0028] Another advantage of the embodiments of the present invention isbetter expressed in the case of multiple peripheral devices (e.g.,cameras, mice, keyboards, pens, scanners, printers and so on). Anexample of such a multiple peripheral system is the case of multiplecameras transmitting image data to the same host, via one host receiver,as in a home security system, where one camera may be configured to“look” at the front door of a house and another may be configured tolook at the swimming pool and another camera may be “looking” at asleeping child. In such an arrangement, it will be difficult, if notnearly impossible to optimize the reception quality of all camerastransmitting to a single stationary receiver. For example, without themethods and systems of the present invention, every time a differentcamera is selected, the operator will need to adjust the receiver or thereceiver's antenna to achieve an optimum reception. The methods andsystems of the present invention will cause the host computer, via theexecution of the host-resident software, to automatically select thebest antenna depending on each transmitting device. Therefore, using themethods and systems of the present invention, the host computer willautomatically select the best receiver antenna for any camera viewselected without the need to move the receiver or the receiver antenna.

[0029] Another advantage of the embodiments of the present invention isthat it allows for the minimization of the costs of the transmitter forthe peripheral device (e.g., a camera). A camera can have a very simplelow power fixed position omni-directional antenna, hence avoidingantennas that are adjustable relative to the camera, and which are morecostly. Without the automatic tuning functionality provided by thehost-resident software, a wireless camera would need either anadjustable antenna, which add additional costs to the cost of thecamera, or the camera's position would have to adjusted for an optimumreception at the host. However, in a monitoring application, the cameraneeds to be positioned for its desired view, and not the direction ofits antenna for a best transmission. Therefore, by having the antennaarray of the diversity reception arrangement on the intelligent hostreceiver and the measurement and selection algorithms performed by thehost-resident software, camera costs can be minimized.

[0030] The migration of the complexity and intelligence from thetransmitting device to the host-resident software program is even moreadvantageous when multiple camera views are simultaneously beingdisplayed on one host, via a host receiver. In such a scenario, multipleeconomies will be realized by having multiple low-cost camerastransmitting to a single host receiver, thus allowing an overall lowcost system.

[0031] Yet another advantage of the method and system of the presentinvention is that the signal measurement, and antenna selection iscarried out by a host-resident software program. Using software insteadof hardware allows for a very efficient and low cost method of updatingthe measurement and selection algorithms. As more efficient or improvedalgorithms are developed, the system's software is easily upgradedwithout requiring the more expensive hardware retrofits.

[0032] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, thediversity reception method is implemented as firmware in anoperating-system-based host on a general purpose or application specificchip coupled with the host. Yet alternately, the diversity method isimplemented as firmware on a non-operating-system-based integratedcircuit.

[0033] Furthermore, as set forth above, the diversity receptionmethodology in accordance with embodiments of the present inventionutilizes a plurality (at least two) of antennas for the reception and/ortransmission of data. The plurality (at least two) of antennas may be onthe transmitting or receiving device, or alternately the diversityscheme may use antennas that are shared or able to be shared in a deviceresident network as in a wireless network, such as, for example, aBluetooth-based network. An example of such a network is aBluetooth-enabled network where many devices are communicating with oneanother in a given area in a networked manner. In such an environment, atransmitting or receiving device may use an antenna of another device asan alternate (i.e. diversity) antenna to avoid a null in order toreceive or send a signal having a higher signal quality. In this manner,the diversity reception approach in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention will use the most productive antenna for receiving orsending data, and the most productive antenna can either be an alternateantenna on the receiving or sending device or alternately an antenna onanother device within the network.

[0034] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the presentinvention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe essential characteristics thereof. For example, the antennaselection algorithm may be based on signal quality indicators other thansignal-to-noise or signal level, such as the signal's history orvariance. These other embodiments are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention, which is set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for wireless transfer of data between aperipheral device and a host, said system comprising: a peripheraldevice configured to wirelessly transfer data; at least two receivingantennas configured to receive said data from said peripheral device toproduce at least two received signals, where each of said receivedsignals has a corresponding signal quality; a receiver connected withsaid at least two antennas, said receiver configured to process saidreceived signals; a bus coupled with said receiver; a host connectedwith said receiver via said bus, said host configured to process saidreceived signals; and a computer useable medium having computer readablecode embodied therein for causing said host to select one of said atleast two antennas, said computer readable code further comprising: (i)a signal quality measuring code portion configured to cause said host tomeasure said signal quality of said received signals; (ii) a signalquality comparing code portion configured to cause said host to comparesaid signal quality of said received signals; and (iii) an antennaselecting code portion configured to cause said host to select one ofsaid antennas, depending on said signal quality, wherein said selectedantenna is used to send data to be processed by said receiver fortransfer with said host.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiverfurther comprises at least two transmitting antennas for thetransmission of data from said host to said peripheral device, whereeach of said transmitting antennas provides a transmitted signal havinga corresponding signal quality, and where said peripheral device isconfigured to wirelessly receive data.
 3. The system of claim 2 whereinsaid computer useable medium further includes a computer readable codeembodied therein for causing said host to select one of said at leasttwo transmitting antennas, said computer readable code furthercomprising: (i) a transmitting signal quality measuring code portionconfigured to cause said host to measure a transmitting signal qualityfor each of said transmitting antennas; (ii) a signal quality comparingcode portion configured to cause said host to compare said transmittingsignal quality for each of said transmitting antennas; and (iii) atransmitting antenna selecting code portion configured to cause saidhost to select one of said transmitting antennas, depending on saidtransmitting signal quality, wherein said selected transmitting antennais used to transfer data with said peripheral device.
 4. The system asin any one of claims 1-3, where said signal quality is selected from thegroup consisting of a signal-to-noise ratio, signal level andcombinations thereof.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said peripheraldevice is selected from the group consisting of a digital camera, acomputer keyboard, a computer mouse and combinations thereof.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said bus is selected from the group consistingof a universal serial bus, an inter integrated circuit bus, an IEEE 1394bus, a serial port, a parallel port, an enhanced parallel port and anextended capabilities port.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said hostis selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a handheldcomputer, an interactive set-top box, an interactive game console, athin client computing device, a cellular telephone, an internetappliance, an electronic image display, a TV, a projector, a mediaburner, a media player, a printer, a photo finishing kiosk andcombinations thereof.
 8. A wireless transceiver system configured totransfer data between a peripheral device and a host, said systemcomprising: at least two antennas configured to transfer data betweensaid peripheral device and said host; a transceiver connected with saidat least two antennas, said transceiver configured to process said data;a host configured to be connected with said transceiver via a bus, saidhost configured to process said data; and a computer useable mediumhaving computer readable code embodied therein for causing said host toselect one of said at least two antennas, said computer readable codefurther comprising: (i) a signal quality measuring code portionconfigured to cause said host to measure a signal quality of a signalfor each of said antennas; (ii) a signal quality comparing code portionconfigured to cause said host to compare said signal quality for each ofsaid antennas; and (iii) an antenna selecting code portion configured tocause said host to select one of said antennas, depending on said signalquality, wherein said selected antenna is used to transfer data betweensaid host and said peripheral device.
 9. The system of claim 8 whereinsaid signal quality is selected from the group consisting of asignal-to-noise ratio, signal level and combinations thereof.
 10. Thesystem of claim 8 wherein said peripheral device is selected from thegroup consisting of an electronic camera, a computer keyboard, acomputer mouse and combinations thereof.
 11. The system of claim 8wherein said host is selected from the group consisting of a personalcomputer, a handheld computer, an interactive set-top box, aninteractive game console, a thin client computing device, a cellulartelephone, an internet appliance, a digital picture frame andcombinations thereof.
 12. A method of selecting an antenna from at leasttwo antennas which are configured to transfer data between a peripheraldevice and a host, said method comprising: continuously measuring afirst signal quality from a first antenna; continuously measuring asecond signal quality from a second antenna; comparing said first signalquality with said second signal quality; and selecting one of said atleast two antennas having a higher signal quality to transfer databetween said peripheral device and said host, where said measuring andsaid comparing is performed by said host.
 13. The method of claim 12wherein said signal quality is selected from the group consisting of asignal-to-noise ratio, signal level and combinations thereof.
 14. Themethod of claim 12 wherein said peripheral device is selected from thegroup consisting of a digital camera, a computer keyboard, a computermouse and combinations thereof.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein saidhost is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, ahandheld computer, an interactive set-top box, an interactive gameconsole, a thin client computing device, a cellular telephone, aninternet appliance, an electronic image display, a TV, a projector, amedia burner, a media player, a printer, a photo finishing kiosk andcombinations thereof.